California Small Farm Conference: Supporting an Educational Experience with Scholarships

By: Paul Lehman

Farm economic development can be as simple as getting some practical education. That’s why FSA in California started providing beginning and small farmers with scholarships to attend the annual California Small Farm Conference. The event gives small and beginning farmers an opportunity to exchange ideas on operating their farms and increasing profits.

This year’s conference, themed “Farming for the Future,” was held March 1-3, 2009, in Sacramento. FSA awarded scholarships to 100 farmers from various parts of California so they could attend the educational event. To date, nearly 950 small farm scholarships have been awarded by FSA California.  

 “FSA is dedicated to promoting and protecting the economic viability of new and small scale farmers, so we thought we should get involved in this conference,” said Monique Kristofors, Outreach Coordinator in California and a current conference board member. She championed the scholarship idea, worked out the details, and has coordinated the effort for the last ten years.

Since inception of the scholarship program, FSA staff have seen immediate benefits for farmers and ranchers. When returning from the conference to their own operations, the attendees have new financial and production planning tools, as well as marketing knowledge to use in their operations. They also have a new group of friends and contacts to rely on as resources for problem solving in the future. 

Nels Christensen, California’s Farm Loan Chief, joined the Small Farm Conference planning committee this year and credits the conference for spreading the word about FSA’s Farm Loan options. “The Small Farm Conference continues to be an excellent source for targeting our Farm Loan Program to priority markets, including socially disadvantaged producers as well as beginning farmers and ranchers,” said Christensen. “We all win in this relationship.”

The state’s farmers are as diverse as the crops grown in this Golden State, so it’s no surprise that scholarship recipients have been Hmong, African-American, Hispanic and Asian-American. Scholarships have also gone to women and disabled persons.  Many farmers helped though this scholarship program are now exploring nontraditional agricultural ventures, including organic production, farmers market sales, community supported agriculture, and direct marketing to restaurants, schools and hospitals.

If your state is looking for a way to expand their outreach to the beginning and socially disadvantaged agricultural population, consider starting a Small Farm Conference in your state.  Better yet, you may already have one and just need to plug in to the network.  To start your own exploration, find out more at www.californiafarmconference.com.

The friendly FSA California staff is ready to assist attendees with translation and provide program and loan information.(Left to right) Sherrie Hodge, PT, Bakersfield; Terrie Hetzell, PT, Santa Maria; Phoua Yang, PT, Fresno; Monique Kristofors, State Outreach Coordinator, State Office; Lisa Velasquez, CED, Sonoma Marin.